In a recent post, we were challenged to tap into God’s wisdom for our lives on a regular basis. With that understanding and response to the challenges of life as we live it, how do we begin to think about that abundant future of meaning?
Let’s explore some ways we can start to think about that future and its three stages.
We know that these are a few things you likely desire:
• Continue to serve the Lord faithfully and grow spiritually.
• Seamlessly support your family.
• Do more of the things you have always wanted to do.
• Live comfortable, happily, and with love and compassion.
• Live out the end of your days meaningfully with your own personal acts of ministry and those you share with others, your community, and your church.
Future-Funded Ministry is uniquely developed for you to serve where called:
• It’s devoted to the devoted. We are all ministers.
• It provides a plan to help yourself serve God as a minister (impacting the lives of others).
• It enables missionaries, church employees, and staff of Christian organization to plan wisely manage money for their futures during their income-producing years. (and everyone else too).
• Future Funded Ministry puts the focus on God’s plan for us, not your own.
• It empowers you to act now: Learning about yourself and how to deal with money; accept that you will retire, although with a new definition; and, starting to fund it now will help you embrace its meaning and purpose.
There is a parable in the Bible that talks about remaking or reshaping “marred” or flawed materials into something new and useful; it is not unlike the idea that retirement too can be redefined.
The Potter and The Clay
The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” Then I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
-Jeremiah 18:1-6, New King James Version (NKJV)
It’s time we re-molded the clay that shapes our perceptions of that time in our lives when the paycheck stops. Let’s redefine retirement as something that serves our desire for meaning and changed lives; let’s embrace the idea of Future Funded Ministry. It brings a new power to our lives.
Future-Funded Ministry will help you realize your dream and fulfill God’s specific plan for you; because face it, dreams need to be planned and funded with real dollars. And dreams aren’t just those youthful fantasies – you can discover ways to deliver meaning with impact along with all the good times to come. And then there is the issue of funding: You must fund your future ministry.
To help you live it, say it now:
Retirement is not only a reward for past services, it’s a stepping stone for future ministry.
Tap into God’s wisdom now, learn from the bumps of life, and connect with your future starting today!
Discovering our future together,
Bruce